On March 25, 1971, Pakistani occupation forces launched ‘Operation Searchlight’, unleashing unprecedented cruelty on independence-seeking Bengalis in what was then East Pakistan. Thousands of Hindus were brutally murdered, Hindu women and girls were subjected to rape, and Hindu homes were set ablaze. For the Pakistani military, this massacre of unarmed civilians – primarily Hindus – was a grim celebration, as policymakers in Rawalpindi labeled the Bengali liberation movement a “Hindu uprising”. Throughout the nine-month-long war for Bangladesh’s independence, Arab nations, including Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, framed the conflict as a “war between Muslims and Hindus”.
Fifty-three years after gaining independence, Bangladesh finds itself under siege by Islamists, jihadists, and anti-Hindu forces. These groups are evidently supported by international actors, including notorious figures such as Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, George Soros, and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). This resurgence is bolstered by the influence of Nobel laureate and Trump-hater Muhammad Yunus and his allies, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Hefazat-e-Islam (HeI), Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), and Ansar Al Islam, a local affiliate of Al Qaeda and several thuggish gangs comprising Islamists and leftists. Since the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and seize of power by Muhammad Yunus and his cronies, the country has seen an alarming rise in Islamist extremism, with jihadist flags being openly waved and radical slogans inciting violence against Hindus, members of ISKCON, and so-called “Indian agents”.
A reign of terror against Hindus
Since late July 2024, Hindus in Bangladesh have endured horrific atrocities, including mass killings, rapes of women and girls (including minors), and widespread looting. Hindu homes, businesses, and temples have been systematically targeted in arson attacks which have been perpetrated by Islamist, jihadists and Hindu-haters. This unfolding genocide appears to mirror Adolf Hitler’s “Final Solution”, as the revolutionary Islamist regime under Muhammad Yunus pursues the dangerous agenda of transforming Bangladesh into a Hindu-free, Taliban-style state. Such a transformation would not only make Bangladesh a hotbed of radical Islamic terrorism but also pose a severe security threat to neighboring India and the broader region.
Madrassas: Breeding grounds for jihadists
In Bangladesh, madrassas have become notorious for nurturing jihadists. The Hathazari Madrassa in Chittagong is a stronghold of Hefazat-e-Islam, a pro-Caliphate group that produces thousands of jihadists annually. Despite the lack of transparency around its funding, it is widely believed that much of its financial support comes from Afro-Arab sources, particularly Qatar. Graduates from Hathazari Madrassa often find employment as imams, muezzins, and religious teachers, not only in Bangladesh but also in countries like the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. Under the guise of religious duties, they perpetuate jihadist indoctrination, contributing to the alarming rise of radical Islam globally.
Another significant jihadist hub is the ‘Jamia Rashidia Quranic Madrasa’ in Feni district in Bangladesh. Founded in 1994 by Mufti Shahidullah, a disciple of the late Rashid Ahmad Ludhianvi, this madrassa has close ties to global terror networks like al-Qaeda and ISIS. Rashid Ahmad Ludhianvi, a radical Pakistani cleric, was a staunch Taliban supporter and reportedly had direct communication with Osama bin Laden.
It is further learnt Rashid Ahmad Ludhianvi was also a prominent supporter of the Afghan Taliban, and after he returned with “extremely positive impressions” from Afghanistan and wrote a book as advice for the Talibans, titled ‘Obedience to the Amir’ and composed in 1998 or 1999, Mullah Omar was so impressed that he distributed Pashto and Dari versions of it to the visitors, saying it perfectly represented the Talibans’ ideology, while Barnett Rubin states that this “manual on how to run a militant organization” helped the Taliban “devise an organizational model that suppressed tribalism and patronage network more effectively than any other organization in Afghanistan”.
The Feni madrassa houses over 7,000 students and more than 300 teachers, many of whom are allegedly linked to extremist activities. Despite its massive operational costs—exceeding US$200,000 per month – there is no visible source of income, raising concerns about illicit funding channels.
In addition to regular students, this madrassa also has “special arrangements” for “Kulliat Sharayyai” meaning, those who follow the strict rule of Sharia in the lives and consider Rashid Ahmad Ludhianvi as their philosopher. There are over two dozen of “Khadim” employed only to take care of the “outside students”. It is alleged that a large number of students of this madrassa are sent to Afghanistan and Pakistan under the guise of the members of Tablighi Jamaat.
Apart from regular students, there are special arrangements for ‘Kulliat Sharayyai’ and religious education of the local common people for those educated in general education. The institution has 140 teachers and 21 Khadim and employees.
Journalists, right activists and even members of the diplomatic missions are not allowed within the compound of this jihad factory.
Escalating violence and weapon stockpiles
The situation in Bangladesh worsened following a violent jailbreak in Narsingdi District on July 19, 2024. Armed assailants attacked the prison, freeing 909 inmates, including jihadists from groups like Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansar Al Islam. They also looted 85 firearms, including automatic rifles and over 8,150 rounds of ammunition. Similar incidents occurred in prisons across the country, with hundreds of prisoners escaping and large quantities of weapons falling into the hands of militant groups.
Additionally, more than 400 police stations were looted, yielding thousands of firearms, ammunition, and bulletproof jackets now in the possession of jihadist outfits. Reports also indicate that a significant cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, has entered Bangladesh via the Myanmar border since August 2024. These weapons are believed to be intended for use against Hindus and other minority groups.
Crackdown on
ISKCON and Hindu leaders
The revolutionary Islamist regime in Bangladesh has intensified its crackdown on Hindu leaders and organizations. In November 2024, leader of the ‘Sammilito Sanatan Jagran Jote’, Chinmoy Krishna Maharaj and several Hindu activists were arrested on dubious charges of sedition. They were accused of “disrespecting” Bangladesh’s national flag by waving a saffron flag over it, despite evidence showing that the flag in question bore Islamic symbols, not the national emblem.
The arrest of Chinmoy Maharaj has sparked widespread protests among Hindus, with thousands chanting “Jai Shri Ram” and attempting to block the prison van transporting him. In response, Islamist groups attacked the demonstrators, resulting in the brutal murder of Assistant Public Prosecutor Saiful Islam. This has further escalated tensions, with extremist factions labeling ISKCON a “terrorist organization” and calling for the arrest of Hindu protesters.
Extremists have taken to social media, urging fellow Muslims to “sharpen knives” for slaughtering ISKCON members.
Hindus in Chittagong city, in particular, are enduring an unbearable ordeal, reminiscent of the atrocities perpetrated by Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators on the night of March 25, 1971. Unless these acts of violence are halted by the state, hundreds of thousands of Hindus risk being slaughtered, and Hindu women face the threat of physical assault and rape.
A humanitarian crisis ignored
Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, Hindus in Bangladesh have faced relentless persecution, with attacks on their homes, businesses, and places of worship. These incidents have gone largely unreported by international media, and prominent rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have remained silent, allegedly due to Yunus’s influence and connections with the Biden administration.
The international community’s apathy has emboldened extremist forces, leaving religious minorities in Bangladesh vulnerable to unchecked violence. The arrest of Hindu leaders, combined with the rise of Islamist groups, underscores a deeper crisis of governance and religious tolerance in the country.
The escalating violence and systematic persecution of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh demand immediate and decisive international intervention. This crisis is not merely a regional issue but a global challenge to the principles of human rights and religious freedom. If the world continues to remain silent, the forces of extremism will grow bolder, plunging the region into deeper instability. It is imperative for the international community, including governments, rights organizations, and global leaders, to act swiftly and resolutely to protect the lives and dignity of vulnerable communities. Failure to address this crisis now will leave a legacy of injustice and suffering that future generations will hold us accountable for. The time to act is now.
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is an internationally acclaimed multi-award-winning journalist, writer, research-scholar, and Editor, Blitz. He regularly writes for local and international newspapers. Follow him on X @Salah_Shoaib
